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| Florida DOC Increases Security with Identification Technology |
| By The Corrections Connection Staff |
| Published: 02/13/2002 |
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Visitation can pose a number of security risks from the introduction of contraband to potential escapes. In Florida officials are making a major effort to understand exactly who comes through the prison gates and how often with the help of a new hand scanning technology in its visitation areas. The department began installation of the Automated Visitor Registration System II (AVRII) last year and currently it is present in 19 facilities. Officials say the technology will decrease security breaches and speed up the visitor registration process. 'In the past, visitor identification and clearance could take as long as three to four minutes per person. With 150 people in line at the gate, this meant long waits and unhappy citizens' The new process takes about10 seconds per person and is considered less intrusive to the general public,' said Central Visitation Authority Chief Jerry Hewett. 'It [also] eliminates the possibility of inmates leaving disguised as staff or vendors.' According to Gordon Hancock, owner of ISA/TM Systems of Tallahassee Fla. which created the system, the initial scan of a visitor takes approximately 3 to 4 minutes, but after that the scanning can be done in a matter of seconds. 'The visitors love it [because] they don't have to fill out paper work,' he said. The primary part of the new system is a biometric hand reader that makes a digital picture of the back of the hand at 97 points including thickness, size and shape. In addition, a digital camera that mounts in the control room makes a high-resolution digital picture of the visitor. This enrolls them in the system. The system provides the inmate's identification number and a list showing approved visitors. The officer chooses the correct visitor on the list and verifies information such as height, weight, hair color and address. Once the visitor is approved by the officer, the visitor can be enrolled through the hand reader. The reader admits the visitor, prints a pass with the inmate's name, number and bunk location as well as a picture of the visitor and relationship to inmate. If there is a visitation restriction, the pass will indicate it. The visitor is issued a pin number, which they will use again in future visits, and a card. When that visitor exits the institution he/she will enter the pin number in the reader, place their hand in the reader and the information will come up on a screen for the officer. The officer visually identifies the visitor and he/she is released. According to Hancock, the next time that visitor comes to the institution, the process will involve only the hand reader, and a visual check by the officer, which takes less than 30 seconds. He added that the system has battery back-up and can run stand-alone if the power in a facility is lost. There are some exceptions to the procedure. For example, all children are photographed, but are not entered into the biometrics handscan until they reach age 12. This is because their hand is too small to register on the scanner. The photograph is stored in the system for future reference. Also, visitors will be re-photographed as often as control room staff feel it is necessary. Corrections officials are working on an 8-hour training program for correctional officers. Officers will receive hands-on training prior to their institution going live with the AVR II. Advocates of biometric system believe it eliminates many opportunities to falsify information at both entrances and exits of prison grounds. 'We have spent a great deal of money and attention on perimeter defenses and no one has penetrated them in five years,' said Bureau Chief of Security Operations James Upchurch. 'Now, the logical next step is shoring up the greatest area of prison vulnerability, entrance and exit gates,' Upchurch added. Expansion to other facilities such as work camps will occur as funding permits. The third and final stage will involve the inclusion of departmental staff in the system. Although an exact date has not been finalized, the target date is early in 2002. If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding the AVR II system, please contact Jerry Hewett or James Hayden at the Central Visitation Authority (850) 487-8134, SC 277-8134 or email: cva@mail.dc.state.fl.us. |
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